Dice box with pivoted cover



NOV. 22, 1955 R; w, AMANN 2,724,595

DICE BOX WITH PIVOTED COVER Filed Oct. 18, 1954 INVEN TOR. Wand/n4 United States Patent DICE BOX WITH PIVOTED covER Ralph w. Amann, ChicagoJ ll. Application October 18,1954, Serial No. 462,908 Claims. (21. 273-145 This invention relates toja game box, and more specifically to a novel box having particular utility in a game commonly known as Bluff Dice or Blind Mans Bluif.

In this game, the first player shakes the dice in a box and then looks at the dice without permitting the other players to look at them. The first player then declares a score which may be the score actually appearing on the dice or may be higher or lower than that appearing on the dice. The second player may then challenge the first players declaration, in which case the dice are exposed to the view of all players, and either the first or second player is penalized, depending upon whether the actual score of the dice is or is not at least as high as that declared. If the second player does not wish to challenge, he again shakes the dice in the box without exposing them. The second player then looks at the dice without permitting the other players to look at them, and then declares a score. at least as high as that declared by the first player. This procedure is repeated until a challenge is made.

. The conventional dice box or cup which. is generally usedin the playing of this game has been unsatisfactory for several reasons. The usual method of using such a box in the game is to shake the dice in the box and then place the box, bottom up,uon the. table. The player then tilts the box to one side, shielding. the dice with one hand to prevent. other players from observing. the dice.

On many occasions when. this procedure is followed, the player finds that one or more of the dice are piled on top of other dice so that ascore cannot be readand the box must be shaken again until all the dice are fiat on the table.

Another disadvantage of the conventional dice box in this game is that after a challenge the position of the dice may be disturbed when the box is lifted to expose them. Such disturbance of the dice may or may not change the score appearing thereon and therefore is a cause of frequent discussion and controversy between the players. when the challenged player claims a score higher than that appearing. on the dice after the box has been lifted in such manner as to disturb the position of the dice on the table.

Still another disadvantage of the conventional dice box in this game is the delay in passing the dice to the next player at any stage of the game, inasmuch as the box is usually shoved to the next player with the box bottom up and the dice concealed therein if no challenge has been made and is handed to the next player without the dice therein after a challenge. In either case the dice must be returned to the box to permit shaking thereof in the usual way with the players hand covering the open end of the box.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to devise a dice box within which the dice may be conveniently viewed by one player without exposing them to the view of other players.

Another object of the invention is to prevent the dice from piling one on top of the other afterthe box has been shaken.

A further object of the invention is to prevent accidental disturbance of the dice in such manner as to change the score thereon.

Still another object of the invention is to devise a dice box such as above described wherein dice may be conveniently added to the box and removed therefrom without disassembling the box.

Yet another object of the invention is to avoid the necessity of releasing the means for preventing disturbance of the dice by accommodating automatic release of such'means as the box is shaken in the usual way.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a transparent dice retainer preferably in the form of a glass or plastic plate hinged to the box internally thereof and concealed by a lid of the box, the plate being adapted to oscillate as the dice are shaken.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for preventing the plate from sticking in a vertical position when the box is placed bottom down on the table so that the player may raise the lid to view the dice.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a dice box embodying a preferred form of the invention, with the lid of the box closed;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the box shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1, with the lid of the box in open position and with portions of the retainer plate and certain of the dice shown in dotted lines where concealed by the box; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 4 but. showing a modification of the box and lid.

Describing the invention in detail and referring first to the embodiment thereof shown in Figures 1-4,. the novel device comprises a box generally designated 2 having front and rear walls 4 and 6 spaced side walls 8 connected thereto.

A dice retainer preferably in the form of a flat transparent plate 10 of plastic or glass is hinged as at 12 to the side walls 8 for oscillation on a hinge axis disposed above the bottom wall 14 of the box.

It may be noted that the box 2 is preferably opaque and is provided with an opaque lid 16 hinged to the side walls 8 as at 18, said lid and the surfaces of Walls 3 facing the lid preferably being arcuate to conform generally to the path of movement of the edge 20 of plate 10 remote from the hinged edge thereof. This novel construction affords a compact arrangement which confines the dice 22 between the lid 16, the retainer plate 10 and the bottom wall 14. when the box is shaken to oscillate the plate 10 and shake the dice.

When the box is positioned bottom down after shaking thereof, the retainer plate 10 acting by force of gravity holds the dice flat against the bottom wall 14 to prevent accidental disturbance of the dice from their scoring position until the box is shaken by the next player.

It may be noted that means are preferably provided in the form of lugs 24 on the underside of the lid 16 to prevent the plate 10 from assuming a vertical position perpendicular to the bottom wall 14 of the box because the plate might possibly stick in that position when the box is placed bottom down after shaking. This could permit piling of the dice and possible dispute as to the score on received in slots 26 of the rear wall 4 when the lid is opened, as best seen in Figure 4, to permit viewing of the dice in the course of play, as above described.

It may be noted that when the plate 10 is in its dice retaining position, as shown at solid lines in Figure 3, the plate is approximately parallel to the bottom wall 14 to clamp theYdice, as best seen in that figure. As the box isshaken, the plate 10 oscillates between the dice-retaining position shown at solid lines in Figure 3 and the position shown at phantom lines in that figure.

It may also be noted that the particular configuration of the box and lid facilitate concealment of the dice by the player'who opens the lid to view them, as seen in Figure 4. This is due to the front wall 6 beingmuch shorter than the'rear wall 4, so that the player who opens the lid need only open it far enough to permit him to view the dice over the top of wall 6, while the lid 16 and walls 4 and8 effectively shield the dice from the view of other players. Figure 5 shows a modification of the device wherein parts corresponding to those of Figures 14 are identified by corresponding numerals; and it will be seen that the box 2 of Figure 5 is identical with that previously described except that the lugs 24 are on the side walls 8 instead of the lid 16, as in the previously described embodiment. I

Thus it will be understood that the novel device facilitates passing of the dice, because they are never removed from the box during play, although they may be readily removed and replaced as may be desired when the box is not in use. Furthermore, piling of the dice is positively prevented, and accidental disturbance of the dice in such manner as to cause dispute concerning the score of a chal- "lenged player is also prevented. The novel box also facilitates viewing of the device by one player without exposing them to the other players in the game.

While the present invention has been explained and described with reference to specific embodiments of structure, it will be understood, nevertheless, that numerous modifications and variations are susceptible of being incorporated without departure from the essential spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, it is not intended for an understanding of this invention to be limited by the foregoing description nor by the illustrations in the annexed drawings, except as indicated in the hereinafter appended claims. I

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. A game device comprising a box having a closed bottom and an open top, a lid moveably connected to the box for closing said open top thereof, a transparent retainer pivotally mounted in said box for oscillation therein as the box is shaken, and a plurality of dice confined between the retainer, the lid and the bottom of the box when the top of said box is closed by said lid.

2. A game device according to claim 1 wherein the lid 'is provided with means to prevent the retainer from moving to a position perpendicular to the bottom of the box. 3. A game device according to claim 1 wherein the box is provided with means to prevent the retainer from 4 moving to a position perpendicular to the bottom of. the box.

4. A game device comprising a box having a closed bottom and an open top, a transparent retainer plate in said box pivotally mounted at one side to the side walls thereof for oscillation as the box is shaken, a lid on the top of said box having an arcuate inner surface conforming approximately to the path of the opposite side of the plate as the latter oscillates, and a plurality of dice confined between said plate and the bottom of the box.

5. A game device comprising a box having a closed bottom, a transparent member pivotally mounted to the side walls of said box for oscillation therein as the box is shaken, and at least one die between the retainer and said bottom, said retainer releasably holding said die in a scoring position thereof when the box is positioned bottom down.

6. A dice box having a closed bottom and an open top, a lid for closing said top, and a transparent dice retainer hinged to said box above the bottom thereof and adapted to releasably hold dice against said bottom when the box is positioned bottom down, and at least one die between the retainer and said bottom.

7. A dice box having a closed bottom and an open top, a lid for closing said top, a transparent retainer plate hinged to the box on an axis above the bottom thereof, and means for preventing said plate from movement on said axis to a vertical position when the box is positioned bottom down, and at least one die between the said plate and said bottom.

8. A dice box comprising a rear wall, a front wall shorter than said rear wall, spaced side walls connected to the front and rear walls from the top to bottom thereof, a bottom wall connected to said front, rear and side walls, a lid hinged to the side walls of said box to close the top thereof, a transparent retainer in said box and hinged at one edge thereof to the box on an axis approximately parallel to the hinge axis of said lid, said lid and side walls being arcuate on the facing surfaces thereof to conform to the path of movement of the opposite edge of the retainer as the latter oscillates on its hinge axis during shaking of the box with dice therein confined by the lid, the retainer and the bottom walls.

9. A dice box according to claim 8 wherein the lid is provided with a lug engageable with said retainer in the closed position of the lid to limit movement of the retainer toward the rear wall.

10. A dice box according to claim 8 wherein the box is provided with a lug engageable with the retainer to limit movement thereof toward the rear wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

